Hug a hoodie and Gilbert & George

I know that just now people are queuing up to propose new policies to the leader of the opposition — wind turbines, green taxes and what not — but even so I have a modest proposal for the David Cameron reform agenda. Now that he has encouraged the hugging of hoodies and smiled on single-sex partnerships, I suggest that he embrace another group traditionally loathed and reviled by some of those who count themselves natural conservatives, with both upper and lower case ‘c’. I mean, of course, contemporary artists.

This is an ideal Cameron issue. If he were to seize the high ground of the art world, he would at once left-foot the Labour party, and infuriate those of his own party he wishes to annoy. He would also, not a negligible consideration, be right.

Modern art has long been a favourite subject for jeremiads delivered by those who feel the world today is going — or has already gone — to the dogs.